Ohio and the Tire Saga

OHIO Road conditions 

John was attending the Frozen four with the Buckley’s and the twins and I made a plan to pick him up on our way to Kentucky.   Game ended by 11 Goal was to be in Lexington to have breakfast at the track kitchen at Keeneland Racetrack.  Good goal, seemed reasonable.   John took the first leg and drove until about 130 while I napped. I then took over the wheel.   Driving was fine until outside of Mount Sterling Ohio I hit a rather unpleasant pothole that woke everyone up.  

The light on the car went on and I knew it wasn’t good.   I pulled over to find a rather large tear in the tires of my relatively new Toyota Sienna. 

Remembering how they are run flat tires and it is ok to drive on them, I made it to the next exit to a BP gas station.   We pulled out the manual and activated the road assistance.   While looking for how to access the spare (which the Manual says we had). We found out that because these tires were “run flat” they had a core that protects the rim and allows you to drive up to 50 miles.  

Of course we speak to the person on road side who says because we do not have a spare it will have to be towed to the closest dealership...which doesn’t open until Monday.  

We then discuss options and decide to drive a bit further to a Walmart. We arrive at Walmart after 430 and sleep in the car until 8 when automotive opens. 

Now we think we have got it figured out.   First in line, half hour to fix it then back on the road... sounds easy right? NO.   The tire is a special tire ..of course it is..  can’t even be special ordered.    So we try a few shops In the area... nope no luck on run flat tires. Why would Toyota make it easy? And it’s Sunday. In the Bible Belt...   we did find one dealership that happened to be open on Sunday.  Amazing.  We call.  They can see us eventually so we drive north. (Away from KY) and get to the direct dealership in KY.  Jesse our service rep was so sympathetic and helpful and got us in line.  3 hours, 300 dollars later and a new tire and we are back on the road.  

We missed the breakfast at the track kitchen and the first five races but the kids definitely saw first hand life’s lessons on dealing with complicated situations.